Rolling bearing assembly with a reduced operational clearance

Claim 2

A radial rolling bearing assembly for combining with inner raceway means comprising means defining a bore having a longitudinal axis, two axially adjoining and contacting thin bearing rings coaxial with the bore and defining two outer raceways, two axially adjacent annular rows of rolling elements for respectively rolling along the two outer raceways, cage means defining apertures for respectively guiding the rolling elements, radially inwardly projecting rigid support means interposed between the bore and each ring, radially inwardly projecting resilient support means interposed between the bore and each ring, the rigid support means and the resilient support means acting on each ring in angularly spaced regions of the ring so that each ring has elastically inwardly deformed portions which reduce radial clearance for the rolling elements between the outer raceway and said inner raceway means.

Claim 3

An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cage apertures for the rolling elements of one of said rows of rolling elements are in axial alignment with the cage apertures for the rolling elements of the other row.

Claim 4

An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cage apertures for the rolling elements of one of the rows of rolling elements are angularly offset from the cage apertures for the rolling elements of the other row.

Claim 5

An assembly as claimed in claim 1, comprising the same number of cage apertures and rolling elements in respect to each row of rolling elements.

Claim 6

An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the numbers of cage apertures provided for the rolling elements of the respective rows of rolling elements are different.

Claim 7

An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rigid support means for the respective rings are in axial alignment.

Claim 8

An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rigid support means for the ring of one of the rows of rolling elements are angularly offset with respect to the rigid support means for the ring of the other row of rolling elements.

Claim 9

A bearing assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein the circumferential dimension of the rigid support means for the two rings, the amplitude of the angular offset of the rigid support means for the respective rings and the pitch of the cage apertures for the respective rows of rolling elements are such that the relative position of the rigid support means and the rolling elements of one row of rolling elements passing by said rigid support means is different from the relative position of the rigid support means and the rolling elements of the other row of rolling elements passing by the last-mentioned rigid support means.

Claim 10

An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cage means comprise a single cage.

Claim 11

An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cage means comprise two cages respectively associated with the two rows.

Claim 12

An assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein the two cages are in adjoining relation.

Claim 13

An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the resilient support means comprise a separate bent resilient strip for each ring and having a radius of curvature which exceeds the radius of curvatures of the ring and bore, the strip extending circumferentially of the bore and having two opposite end portions in supported relation to the bore and a middle portion which radially bears against the corresponding ring.

Claim 14

An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the resilient support means for the two rings comprise a single bent resiliently yieldable strip which extends axially of the assembly, has a middle portion in supported relation to the bore and two portions which are adjacent opposite ends of the strip and are in resilient contact with the respective rings.

Claim 15

An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rigid support means for each one of the rings consist of tWo rigid supports and the resilient support means for each one of the rings consist of a single resilient support, the two rigid supports and the resilient support being in angularly spaced relation.

Claim 16

An assembly as claimed in claim 1, comprising a sleeve of thin steel which is engaged in the bore and encompasses the two rings, the rigid support means comprising cup-shaped deformed portions of the sleeve.

Claim 17

An assembly as claimed in claim 15, wherein the resilient support means comprise a separate bent resilient strip for each ring and having a radius of cuvature which exceeds the radii of curvature of the ring and sleeve, the strip extending inside the sleeve circumferentially of the sleeve and having two opposite end portions in supported relation to the sleeve and a middle portion which radially bears against the corresponding ring.

Claim 18

An assembly as claimed in claim 15, wherein the resilient support means for the two rings comprise a single bent resiliently yieldable strip which extends inside the sleeve and axially of the sleeve and has a middle portion bearing against the sleeve and two portions which are adjacent opposite ends of the strip and are in resilient contact with the respective rings.

Claim 19

An assembly as claimed in claim 15, wherein said sleeve comprises radially inwardly extending portions for axially retaining the rings in the sleeve.

Claim 20

A unit for combination with inner raceway means and means defining a bore, comprising a sleeve, a first rolling bearing and a second rolling bearing both coaxial with and supported by the sleeve and in axially spaced relation to each other, the first rolling bearing comprising two axially adjoining and contacting thin bearing rings coaxial with the sleeve and defining two outer raceways, two axially adjacent annular rows of rolling elements for respectively rolling along the two outer raceways, cage means defining apertures for respectively guiding the rolling elements, cup-shaped deformed portions of the sleeve constituting radially inwardly projecting rigid support means for the two rings, radially inwardly projecting resilient support means for the two rings interposed between the sleeve and the two rings, the rigid support means and the resilient support means acting on each ring in angularly spaced regions of the ring so that each ring has elastically inwardly deformed portions which reduce radial clearance for the rolling elements between the outer raceway and said inner raceway means.

Claim 21

A unit for combination with inner raceway means and means defining a bore, comprising a sleeve, a first rolling bearing and a second rolling bearing both coaxial with and supported by the sleeve and in axially spaced relation to each other, the first rolling bearing comprising two axially adjoining and contacting thin bearing rings coaxial with the sleeve and defining two outer raceways, two axially adjacent annular rows of rolling elements for respectively rolling along the two outer raceways, cage means defining apertures for respectively guiding the rolling elements, cup-shaped deformed portions of the sleeve constituting radially inwardly projecting rigid support means for the two rings, radially inwardly projecting resilient support means for the two rings interposed between the sleeve and the two rings, the rigid support means and the resilient support means acting on each ring in angularly spaced regions of the ring so that each ring has elastically inwardly deformed portions which reduce radial clearance for the rolling elements between the outer raceway and said inner raceway means.

Claim 22

A unit as claimed in claim 19, wherein the resilient support means comprise a separate bent resilient strip for each ring and having a radius of curvature which exceeds the radii of curvature of the ring and sleeve, the strip extending inside the sleeve circumferentially of the sleeve and having two opposite end portions in supported relation to the sleeve and a middle portion which radially bears against the corresponding ring.

Claim 23

A unit as claimed in claim 19, wherein the resilient support means for the two rings comprise a single bent resiliently yieldable strip which extends inside the sleeve and axially of the sleeve and has a middle portion bearing against the sleeve and two portions which are adjacent opposite ends of the strip and are in resilient contact with the respective rings.

Claim 24

A unit as claimed in claim 19, wherein the second rolling bearing comprises a single annular row of rolling elements, a ring defining an outer raceway for the rolling elements and means for reducing in a plurality of regions of the ring the clearance between the outer raceway and said inner raceway means for the passage of the rolling elements.

Claim 25

A unit as claimed in claim 19, wherein the second rolling bearing comprises two axially adjoining thin bearing rings coaxial with the sleeve and defining two outer raceways, two axially adjacent annular rows of rolling elements for respectively rolling along the two outer raceways of the second rolling bearing, cage means defining apertures for respectively guiding the rolling elements of the second rolling bearing, cup-shaped deformed portions of the sleeve constituting radially inwardly projecting rigid support means for the two rings of the second rolling bearing, radially inwardly projecting resilient support means for the two rings of the second rolling bearing interposed between the sleeve and the two rings of the second rolling bearing, the rigid support means and the resilient support means acting on each ring of the second rolling bearing in angularly spaced regions of the ring of the second rolling bearing so that each ring of the second rolling bearing has elastically inwardly deformed portions which reduce radial clearance for the rolling elements of the second rolling bearing between the outer raceway and said inner raceway means.